Spring suspension for vehicles.



I. T. S. BROWN. IR. & L. L. MILES.

SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

APPLlcAHoN FILED sEPT.|3.l915.

1 1 82, l 4 1 Patented May 9, 1916.

UNTED STATES PATENT OFFEC 1 JOHN T. S. lBROWN, JR., OF PROSPECT, ANDLEON L. MILES, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SPRING SUSPENSION FOB. VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

springs are substantially constant factorswhile the load imposed is avarying factor, consequently springs are designed to display theirmaximum etliciency when carrying an average load, the result being thatwith less than the average load the springs are stiff and do not respondpromptly, with more than the average load the springs are compressed tosuch a degree that they can not recover properly, the result in case ofpleasure vehicles being discomfort to the oc-` cupants if more or lessthan the calculated complement of passengers is carried.

An object of this invention is the provision of means whereby the stressof the load is transmitted to the springs in such a manner that they actwith substantially their full efficiency regardless of the load imposed.

A further object is the provision of means whereby the suspensionsprings serve to check the rebound as well as carry the load.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, whereinis set forth an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understoodthat such changes and modiiications may be resorted to as come withinythe scope of the claims appended hereunto.

Referring to the drawing wherein similar reference characters designatelike parts in the different views Figure 1 is` a side elevation of anembodiment of the invention; Fig. 2, a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the reference numeral M10#designates the forward portion of the frame, or chassis, of a motor car.An arm 11T- pivotally connected at one end with the frame tangent.

parallel relationship,

as at -l2, and secured intermediate its length to an axle --13, of thevehicle, serves to maintain the relationship of the axle and thevehicle. This arm may be of any desirable shape compatible With itsfunction, but a preferred form is that in which it simulates theappearance of an elliptic spring. The upper side --,14-.of this arm is aplane surface from a point over the axle to its rear, or free, end andis tangent to a curved portion -15. The plane surface acts as aplatform, or bearing, upon which bears a second member, or arm --16,which is pivotally connected with the chassis,l by suitable means suchas a link 17, at a point removed from the point where the arm l1 isConnected. The arm or lever 16 extends longitudinally and rests on thearm ll. the lower, or contacting, surface --l 8# being contoured so thatit contacts with the arm 1l at but one point and has a rocking. orroll/ing movement thereon, wherebyvl the point ,of contact varies as themembers approach or4 recede, from each other.. The normal poin ofcontact of the arms is proximat the st tionary At aY suitable dis/tanceIforward from the normal' point ofwcontact resilient means arepositioned which are a apted to vieldinglv oppose relative verticlmovement ofthe arms. As illustrated this means comprises a shackle 19Whichfrests in a bearing 20- transversely disposed on the upper surfaceof the arm 16. The legs -21- of the shackle idepend on each side of thearms and a coiled compression spring -22- is disposed about each leg.These springs bear respectively on a transverse bar Q8-, which restsagainst thevunder side of the arm lll and on washers Q4- at the lowerends of the legs. The springs may be provided with dust covers as #Q5-(see y Fig. 2).

The arm 1l is composed of two channel shaped members *26.26# held inspaced with their plane surfaces in opposition, by transverse plates-27-. The arm 16 is substantially T shaped in cross section, the stem28- thereof dependingr within the central channel of the arm 11, Whilethe flange w29- rocks on the upper edges of the members 26--26- Thisconstruction serves to prevent lateral displacement of the members 11and i6. Y. .f

In the arrangement depicted the arm 16 is lioo " the rebound to restorethe members to a lever of the first class, the fnlcrnmage of whichshifts toward the rear, or power end Ias the same is depressed, by anincrease in the load. As the rear end of the arm is depressed theforward end rises and through the medium of the shackle compresses thespring, the resistance. of 'which is substantially constant. Thecurvature of the lever is so' designed that the fulcrum point` shifts indirect ratio with the load and thus equilibrium is maintained betweenthe load and the spring. Should the rear end of the arm l0 recede fromthe arm 11 above, or beyond, the normal point owing to a rebound, due toinequalities in the roadway, or other cause, the forward portion willroll upon the curved portion l5 of the arm 11 and the lever 1G nowacting as a lever of the second class will compress the spring, whichowing to the increasing leverage will act With a force in proportion tothe extent of normal position.

Having thus described our invention so that anyone skilled in the artpertaining thereto may make and use the same, we claim: l

l.' In a spring suspension device for vehicles, a chassis, a memberpivotally connected athene end with said Chassis and attachedintermediate its length to an axle of the vehicle, a second memberpivotally connected with the chassis at a point removed from the firstmentioned connection and bearing upon the first named member, and meansadapted to yieldinglv oppose relative movement in either direction froma normal position of restofi' said members.

2. In'a spring suspension device for vehiclesfachassis, a memberpivotallv connected at one end with said chassis and attachedintermediate its length to an axle of the vehicle, a decond memberpivotally connected with the chassis at a point removed from the firstmentioned connection, said second member extending longitudinali) of andbearing on the first named member, and means adapted to vieldinglyoppose relative move- A ment of said members in either direction from anormal posit-ion.

3. In a spring suspension device for vehicles, a chassis, a memberpivotally connected at one end with said chassis and attachedintermediate its length to an axle of the vehicle, a second memberpivotally conmnected with said chassis at a point removed from the firstmentioned connection, said second member extending longitudinally7 ofand bearing on the first named member, means to prevent relative lateralmovement of said members, and means adapted to yieldingly opposerelative vertical movement of said members in either direction from anormal position. q

4. In a spring suspension device Lor vehicles, a chassis, a rigid memberpivotallyV Y connected at one end with said chassis and attachedintermediate its length to an axle of the vehicle, a Second rigid memberpivotallv connected with the chassis at a point removed from thefirstmentionedconnection, and having a rocking point of contact upon thefirst named member, and a spring connected with said members and adaptedto oppose relative vertical movement thereof in either direction from anormal position of rest.

In a spring suspension device for vehicles, a chassis, a rigid memberpivotally connected at one end with said chassisand attachedintermediate its length to an axle of the vehicle, av second rigidmember pivotally connected with the chassis at a point removed from thefirst mentioned connec-v tion, said second member extendinglongitudinally of and having' a rocking point of contact on the firstnamed member and a spring adapted to oppose relative vertical movementof said members in either direction from a normal position of rest.

G. ln a spring suspension device for vei hiclesa chassis, a rigid memberpivotally connected at one end with said chassis and attachedintermediate its length to an axle of the vehicle, a second rigidmembery pivotallv connected with the Vchassis at a point removed fromthe first mentioned connection` said second member extendinglongitmlinallv of and having a rocking point of` contact on the firstnamed member, means to prevent relative lateral movement of saidmembers` and a spring adapted to oppose relative vertical movement ofsaid members in either direction from a normal position.

7. ln a spring suspension device for vehicles. a pair of memberspivotally connected to the vehicle and disposed in longitudinalrelationship, one of said members attached to an axle of the vehicle,the other member adapted to rock upon the first mentioned member, aspring, and means whereby said second named memliier acts in oneposition as a lever of the first order upon said spring and in anotherposition as a lever of second order, said positions being determined bvthe load.

8. In a spring suspension device for vehicles` an axle, means formaintaining the relationship of the vehicle and said axle, a leverpivotallv connected b v one end to the vehicle and fulcrumed on theaxle, means wherebv the fulcrum point. varies with the load on thevehicle and a spring opposingy the movement of the fulcrum point ineither direction from a normal state of rest.

9. In a spring suspension device for vehicles, a chassis, a memberpivotally connected at one end with said chassis andattached-intermediate its length to an axle of the vehicle, a secondmember pivotally con-v.

nected with the chassis at a point removed from the first mentionedconnection, said second member extending longitudinally of and bearingon the first named member, the bearing surface of, the first namedmember being a plane surface with an acclivity at the forward endthereof, the second named member presenting a convex bearing surfacewhich rocks on said plane surface or acclivity accordingly as thechassis descends below or rises above a normal position of rest. and atension device tending to restrain the movement of the second member ineither direction from its normal position of rest.

10. In a spring suspension device for vehicles, a chassis, a memberpivotally connected at one end with the chassis and attachedintermediate its length to an axle of the vehicle, a second memberpivotally connected with the chassis at a point removed from the firstmentioned connection. said second member extending longitudinally ofanil bearing on the first named member. the bearing surface in the firstnamed member being a plane surface with an acclivity at the forward endthereof. the second named member presenting a convex bearing surfacewhich rocks on said plane surface or acclivity accordingly as thechassis descends below or rises above a normal position of rest. andresilient means opposing the movement of the second member along theplane surface or the acclivitv.

1l. ln a spring suspension device for vehicles. a pair of memberspivotally connected to the vehicle and disposed in longitudinalrelationship. one of said members presentingT a bearing face comprisinga plane with a risingcurve at one end thereof. the other memberpresentiircr a convex bearing .surface which contacts normally with thefirst named member in proximity to its stational-y tangent, and a springconnected with said members and adapted to oppose movement of the secondmember in either direction from its normal point of contact.

1'2. In a spring suspfnsion device for vehicles, an axle, a platformsupported by said axle, the bearing face of the platform being a planewith an upward curve at'the forwardend thereof, a lever, pivotallyconnected by one end to the vehicle, which has a convex bearing surface4bearing on the platform and adapted to rock on said plane or curve inconformity with the movement of the vehicle below or above its normalposition of rest, and a tension device tending to restrain the movementof the second member in either direction from its normal position ofrest.

13. In a spring suspension device for vehicles. an axle. a platformsupported b v said axle. the bearing surface of the platform being aplane with an upward curve at the forward end thereof. a lever,pivotally connected by one end to the vehicle. and having a convexbearingr surface bearing on the platform and adapted to rock on saidplane, or curve in conformity with the movement of the vehicle lelow iabove its normal position of rest. and resilient means adapted to opposethe rocking'of said lever in either direction from its normal point ofcontact.

14. ln a spring suspensionv device for vehicles. a rocking lever. aspring. a connection between said spring and lever. a track on whichsaid lever rocks. said track so contoured that while moving along oneportion thereof said lever acts on said spring as a lever of the firstorder and when moving along the other portionthereof it acts as a leverof the second order.

JOHN T. S. BRO\VN', JR. LEO L. MILES.

